Last May we went for a high-speed run around Laguna Seca in BMW's Track Trainer, a modified 3 Series that can click of two-minute laps without the driver touching the controls. Now, BMW has packed a 5 Series with the next iteration of the technology and taken it on to the open road.

Automakers are always looking to push the boundaries with experimental technology, but BMW seems to be ahead of the curve with respect to autonomous vehicles. Previously, BMW was sticking to closed circuits to show off its TrackTrainer. Now, however, the German automaker is venturing out on to public roads, and it's doing so with an automated 5 Series fitted with advanced ConnectedDrive technology.